Handbag, purse or the like



Aug. 13, 1957 B. STEMBER HANDBAG, PURSE OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1956 ATTORNEYS 3, 1957 B. STEMBER 2,802,501

HANDBAG, PURSE OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 6. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. jar/wry fife/745e, BY 6M M ATTORNE Y5 Aug. 13, 1957 B. STEMBER HANDBAG, PURSE OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 6; 195s A TTORNETS U -i t te am Leather Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 6, 1956, Serial N6. 626,656 Claims. 01. 150-36) The present invention relates to purses, pocketbooks and handbags and similar articles of the type disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,213,618.

One object of the present invention is to provide a purse, handbag, pocketbook or similar article of the above indicated type of improved and simplified construction. More particularly, in this connection one of the objects of the present invention is to provide such articles with a. plurality of compartments having access openings at different positions and formed by providing the article with an interior wallcommon to both of said compartments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of the indicated character with a series of compartments a plurality of which may have access openings at one position with provision for selective access to the com-.

partments, and with another of the compartments having an access opening at a different position remote from the first mentioned position and preferably not readily observable except upon close examinationof the. purse A yet further object of theinvention is generally to improve the art of handbags, pocketbooks and purses, with special reference to but in some instances not necessarily limited to, articles of the type disclosed in my above-mentioned patent,

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a purse embodying my invention and illustrates a presently preferred embodiment thereof;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. l;

, Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a purse showing another form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a purseshowing yet another form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line '7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a purse showing another embodiment of the invention, parts-being cut away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper part of the purse shown in Fig. 8, illustrating the three clasps for releasably securing the three hinged frames to each other;

Fig. 10 is a perspective. view of a handbag embodying the present invention in another form thereof;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 1111 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a perspective viewof the handbag illustrated by Figs. 10 to 12, showing the handle part of the handbag folded over the body of thehandbag at the sidethere- 6n the line 12- 12 of ventional purse and comprises the opposite side walls.

12 and 14 and a conventional hinged metal U-shaped frame 16. However, as illustrated by Fig. 2, the purse is considerably different from the conventional purse for, as here shown, said purse is provided with a compartment 18 which is accessible at the top of the purse by opening the conventional hinged frame 16, and there is another compartment 20 separate from the compartment 18 and not noticeable at the top opening of the purse.

The compartments 18 and 20 are formed by a dividing wall 22 which extends from the bottom of the purse at adjacent one side wall 12 to the top of the purse adjacent the other side wall 14 thereof. More particularly, the intermediate wall 22 cooperates with the side wall 12 to form the compartment 18 and also cooperates with the opposite side wall 14 to form the compartment 20. Said wall 22 is stitched at its lower edge to the bottom of side wall 12 as, indicated at 24 and is stitched at its side edges to the meeting end edges 26 and 28 by the line of stitching at said edges which secure the side walls 12 and 14 to each other fromthe bottom of the purse to the pivots 30 between the. U-shaped frame members.

of the frame 16.

top part of one of the frame members 16' of the frame 16 together with the upper edge of the side wall 14, and the portion of Wall 22 which extends above the pivot 30 is secured in the end portions 32 and 34 of the same frame member together with the portion of said wall 14 which extends above pivot 30. r

The compartment 20 is provided with an access opening 34 which is releasably closed by a slide fastener or zipper 36 which extends preferably completely across the bottom of the purse as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1. It will be observed that the lower portions 38 and 40 of side walls 12 and 14, respectively, are inturned and directed upwardly and the stringers of the zipper are stitched to the edge portion 38 and 40, respectively, so that the access opening and closure 36 therefor to the compartment 20 are not noticeable except upon close examination of the purse.

It will be understood that the side walls 12, 14 and the intermediate wall 22 of the purse may be made of leather, cloth, plastic or any other suitable material.

The provision of the pluralityof compartments in the manner described above wherein the interior of the purse is dividedinto two compartments by the above-described arrangement of wall 22 not only facilitates the construction of the purse and reduces the cost thereof but also enhancesthe secret-pocket characteristic of the purse attained by the provision of the compartment 20 having a separate access opening remote from the conventional access opening to the interior of the purse afforded by the conventional hinged frame 16.

In the form of the invention illustrated by Figs. 4 and I opposite side wall 14A, being stitched to said inturned portions by the seams 46 and 48, respectively. It will disposedat the opposite sides of the purse adjacent said top and bottom, respectively. The intermediate wall is indicated at 22B and it will be understood that it is stitched in position by the top and bottom scams and 52 and by the side seams 60 and 62 which secure the side edges of the side walls 123 and 14B to each other.

. In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8, the purse is of substantially the same construction as the purse shown in Fig. 1 except that a third hinged frame member 84 is provided, and a dividing wall 86 secured thereto and to the lower inturned edge portion 88 of the outer side wall 90 and its lining 92. A second dividing wall member 22C is secured to portion 88 together with the lower part of wall 86 and extends upwardly therefrom to the hinged member 94. The frame members 94 and 96 and the frame member 84 are hinged together at one end of the composite frame as indicated at 98 and are similarly hinged together at the opposite end of the composite frame. It will be understood that the side edges of the side walls'90 and 93 and the side edges of intermediate walls 86 and 22C are all secured to each other below the hinges 98 by the side seams 104) at the opposite ends respectively of the purse, that the intermediate wall 86 is secured to the hinged frame member 84 and that the intermediate wall 22C is secured to the .frame member 94 together with the side wall 93 as described above with reference to the purse ShOWn by Figs. 1 to 3.

As illustrated in Fig. 9 the hingedframes 84, 94, 96 are provided with individual clasp members 102 for re leasably securing the frame members in closed position. It will be noted that access to the compartment between wall 86 and wall 22C may be obtained through the top of the purse by unclasping frame members 84, 94 and likewise access to the compartment between side wall lining 92 and wall 86 may be obtained through the top of the purse by unclasping frame members 84 and 96. Also, it is obvious that access to the secret compartment between side wall 93 and wall 22C may be obtained by opening the zipper closure 102. It will be understood. that the zipper closure 102 extends longitudinally of the purse at the bottom thereof above the lower ends of the side walls 90 and 93 and is normally concealed from view and is not readily observable except upon close examination upon the purse. Thus the purse shown by Fig. 9 comprises a plurality of individually accessible compartments so as to afford a maximum degree of safety to the user of the purse against loss and stealth of articles contained therein.

Referring now to Figs. to 14 of the drawing, the invention is shown embodied in a handbag 122 which comprises a receptacle part 124 and a handle part 126. As indicated by Figs. 10 and 14 the handle part 126 may be disposed in line with the receptacle part 124, as indicated by Fig. 10, or it may be folded and lie against one side of the latter as indicated by Fig. 13. In the folded over position of handle part 126 it overlies and conceals the zipper closure 128 by which access is obtained to the compartment 130 of the receptacle part 124 of the handbag. It will be observed that the compartment 130 is formed by a dividing wall 132 which also defines one side of the compartment 134 through which access is obtained at the bottom of the handbag by operation of the slide operated closure 136. In respect to.

the receptacle part 124 the latter is or may be of the same construction as the purse 10, except that the hinged frame is omitted and the common wall 132 is stitched at its lower edge to the inturned edge portion 138 of the side wall 140 of the handbag and to the upper part of the opposite side wall 142 of the handbag as indicated at 144 in Fig. 11. Also, it will be understood that wall 132 is secured at its side edges by the seams 146 which secure the walls 140 and 142 to each other. In this connection, it will be understood further that the walls 140 and 142 are preferably'integral with the side portions 148 and 150, respectively, of the handle part 126 and that the seams 146'extend continuously to the top of the handbag so as tosecure the handle portions 148 and 15.0 to each other. Also, it will be observed that the handle portions 148 and 150 are stitched or otherwise secured to each other at the top edges 152. Again, it will be seen that the lower parts of handle portions 148 and 150 are secured to each other adjacent the top of the receptacle part 124 of the handbag as indicated at 154 in Fig. 11,

' continuously, across the top of the receptacle part 124 of the handbag so as to completely close, the latter.

As in the case of purse 10, it will be understood that the materials employed for producing any of the above described articles (Figs. 4 to 14) and articles similar thereto in accordance with the present invention maybe of any suitable kind, and may comprise leather, cloth, plastics, etc., and it will be understood that the parts may be secured to each other in any suitable way other than by stitching; for example, when the material is plastic or includes plastic, stitching in the conventional sense may be replaced by heat sealing, cementing, etc. Accordingly, the seams may be formed by stitching or by heat sealing or in any other way.

Thus it is seen that the articles herein shown and described are well adapted to accomplish the several objects of the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments of the invention herein shown or described or to the specific forms of the invention except as may be required according to the scope of the appended claims considered in connection with the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire, to'secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a purse, handbag, or like article, comprising a receptacle having opposite outer side walls and a plurality of separate access openings to'the interior of the receptacle disposed at positions remote from each other and each provided with a releasable closure, means dividing the interior of said'receptacle into a plurality of compartments each providedwith one of said separate access openings and closures, respectively, said dividing means comprising a wall common to said compartments disposed between said opposite side walls and forming said compartments in conjunction with said opposite side walls, respectively, said common wall having a lower edge secured to one of said opposite side walls at one side of the opening .into one of said compartments and having an upper edge secured to the opposite side wall in the region of the upper part of the latter at one side of the opening into the other of said compartments, a hinged U-frame providing said access opening and closure forone of said compartments, said frame comprising hinged U-members each having a cross member and lateral end members extending therefrom to the hinge of the U- frame, said dividing wall having portions secured to at least one of said opposite side walls from the bottom of the receptacle to the point of said hinge and having side edge portions secured in the end and cross members of one of said U members of said frame.

2. In a purse, handbag, or like article, comprising a receptacle having opposite outer side walls and a plurality of separate access openings to the interior of the receptacle disposed at positions opposite from each other and each provided with a releasable closure, means dividing the interior of said receptacle into a pluralityof compartments each provided With one of said separate access openings and clos r r spec ively, said ivid g m ans comprising a wall common to said compartments disposed between said opposite side walls and forming said compartments in conjunction with said opposite side walls, respectively, said common wall having a lower edge secured to one of said opposite side walls at one side of the opening into one of said compartments and having an upper edge secured to the opposite side wall in the region of the upper part of the latter at one side of the opening into another of said compartments, said common wall having opposite side edges secured to at least one of said opposite side walls, ,at least one of said closures comprising a slide fastener having companion stringers, said companion stringers of said one closure being secured respectively at said opposite side walls for releasably closing the access opening to the compartment formed by one of said side walls and said common dividing wall.

3. In a purse, handbag, or like article, comprising a receptacle having opposite outer side walls and a plurality of separate access openings to the interior of the receptacle disposed at' positions opposite from each other and each provided with a releasable closure, means dividing the interior of said receptacle into a plurality of compartments each provided with one of said separate access openings and closures, respectively, said dividing means comprising a wall common to said compartments disposed between said opposite side walls and forming said compartments in conjunction with said opposite side walls, respectively, said common wall having a lower edge secured to one of said opposite side walls at one side of the opening into one of said compartments and having an upper edge secured to the opposite side wall in the region of the upper part of the latter at one side of the opening into another of said compartments, said common wall having opposite side edges secured to at least one of said opposite side walls, at least one of said closures comprising a slide fastener having companion stringers, said companion stringers ofsaid one closure being secured respectively to one of said opposite side wags and to the adjacent edge of said common dividing wa 4. In a purse, handbag, or like article, comprising a receptacle having opposite outer side walls and a plurality of separate access openings to the interior of the receptacle disposed at positions remote from each other and each provided with a releasable closure, means dividing the interior of said receptacle into a plurality of compartments each provided with one of said separate access openings and closures, respectively, said dividing means comprising a wall common to said compartments disposed between said opposite side walls and forming said compartments in conjunction with said opposite side walls, respectively, said common wall having a lower edge secured to one of said opposite side walls at one side of the opening into one of said compartments and having an upper edge secured to the opposite side wall in the region of the upper part of the latter at one side of the opening into the other of said compartments, the opposite side edges of said common wall having opposite side edges secured to at least one of said opposite side walls, at least one of said closures comprising a slide fastener having companion stringers secured respectively, adjacent one of said edges of said common wall and an adjacent part of one of said side wall, said access openings and companion closures being provided in said opposite side walls, respectively, at opposite sides of said receptacle.

5. In a purse, handbag, or like article, comprising a receptacle having opposite outer side walls and a plurality of separate access openings to the interior of the receptacle disposed at positions opposite from each other and each provided with a releasable closure, means dividing the interior of said receptacle into a plurality of compartments each provided with one of said separate access openings and closures, respectively, said dividing means comprising a wall common to said compartments disposed between said opposite side walls and forming said compartments in conjunction with said opposite side walls, respectively, said opposite side walls having lower portions inturned and directed upwardly of the bottom of the receptacle, said common wall having a lower edge secured to the inturned portion of one of said opposite side walls at one side of the opening into one of said compartments and having an upper edge secured to the opposite side wall in the region of the upper part of the latter at one side of the opening into another of said compartments, the opposite side edges of said common wall being secured to at least one of said opposite side walls, at least one of said closures being disposed adjacent the bottom of said receptacle and comprising a slide fastener having companion stringers, said companion stringers of said one closure being secured respectively at the inturned portions of said opposite side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,568,120 Wunthal Ian. 5, 1926 2,016,053 Schaeifer Oct. 1, 1935 2,079,401 Eisenberg et al May 4, 1937 2,159,279 Lipowsky et a1. May 23, 1939 2,276,765 DeGree Mar. 17, 1942 2,394,332 Salem Feb. 5, 1946 2,470,367 Palma May 17, 1949 2,497,325 Scherba Feb. 14, 1950 2,581,029 Knee Jan. 1, 1952 2,620,005 Hall Dec. 2, 1952 

